UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation on November 3, 2005

NOTICE OF ACTION TAKEN -- DOCKET OST-2005-20707

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________________________________

This serves as notice to the public of the action described below, taken
by the Department official indicated (no additional confirming order
will be issued in this matter).

Applicant: OPERADORA TURISTICA AURORA, S.A. de C.V.  			Date Filed: 
March 18, 2005

Relief requested:  Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 to permit the
applicant to conduct passenger charter operations between Mexico and the
United States, and other passenger charters in accordance with 14 CFR
Part 212, using small equipment.  The applicant also requests stopover
privileges and relief from the Department's requirement to provide prior
notice of each flight, or series of flights, between Mexico and the
United States. 

If renewal, date and citation of last action:  New authority

Applicant representative:  Lee A. Bauer, 202-331-3300		  DOT analyst: 
Robert J. Finamore, 202-366-2405

Responsive pleadings:  None.

	DISPOSITION

Action:  Approved.                                                      
                                          Action date:  November 3, 2005

Effective dates of authority granted:  November 3, 2005, through
November 3, 2006.

Basis for approval (bilateral agreement/reciprocity): United
States-Mexico Air Transport Services Agreement (“the Agreement”).

Except to the extent exempted/waived, this authority is subject to the
terms, conditions, and limitations of our standard exemption conditions
(attached).

Special conditions/Remarks:  Special conditions/Remarks:  We found that
the applicant is operationally and financially qualified to conduct its
proposed operations and is substantially owned and effectively
controlled by citizens of its homeland.  Also, the FAA advised us that
it knows of no reason to withhold this authority.  In the conduct of
these operations, the carrier must adhere to all applicable provisions
of the Agreement.  In the conduct of these operations, the carrier may
only use aircraft capable of carrying no more than 60 passengers and
having a maximum payload capacity of no more than 18,000 pounds (small
equipment).  The above grant includes authority to operate Third and
Fourth Freedom charters.  While we have subjected, consistent with the
provisions of the Agreement, Mexican carriers conducting charter
operations with large aircraft to prior approval or submission of notice
for their Third and Fourth Freedom charters, we determined that any such
requirement was not necessary on public interest grounds in the case of
this carrier, since the carrier will be conducting these operations
solely with small aircraft.  (Other charter operations to/from the
United States under this authority, however, are subject to prior
approval under 14 CFR Part 212.)  Further, we are continuing to allow
Mexican carriers conducting passenger charters using small equipment to
make stopovers in the United States in the conduct of such operations. 

Action taken by:   Paul L. Gretch, Director, Office of International
Aviation	

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Under authority assigned by the Department in its regulations, 14 CFR
Part 385, we found that (1) our action was consistent with Department
policy; (2) the applicant was qualified to perform its proposed
operations; (3) grant of the authority was consistent with the public
interest; and (4) grant of the authority would not constitute a major
regulatory action under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. 
To the extent not granted/deferred/dismissed, we denied all requests in
the referenced Docket.  We may amend, modify, or revoke the authority
granted in this Notice at any time without hearing at our discretion.

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of the action set
forth in this Notice under the Department’s regulations, 14 CFR
§385.30, may file their petitions within seven (7) days after the date
of issuance of this Notice.  This action was effective when taken, and
the filing of a petition for review will not alter such effectiveness.

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide
Web at:

http://dms.dot.gov//reports/reports_aviation.asp

FOREIGN CARRIER EXEMPTION CONDITIONS                                    
                              ATTACHMENT

In the conduct of the operations authorized, the foreign carrier
applicant(s) shall:

1) Not conduct any operations unless it holds a currently effective
authorization from its homeland for such operations, and it has filed a
copy of such authorization with the Department;

2) Comply with all applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation
Administration, including, but not limited to, 14 CFR Parts 129, 91, and
36, and with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning
security, including, but not limited to, 49 CFR Part 1546 or 1550, as
applicable.  To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. Government
requirements concerning security, the holder shall, before commencing
any new service (including charter flights) from a foreign airport that
would be the holder’s last point of departure for the United States,
contact its International Principal Security Inspector (IPSI) to advise
the IPSI of its plans and to find out whether the Transportation
Security Administration has determined that security is adequate to
allow such airport(s) to be served;

3) Comply with the requirements for minimum insurance coverage contained
in 14 CFR Part 205, and, prior to the commencement of any operations
under this authority, file evidence of such coverage, in the form of a
completed OST Form 6411, with the Federal Aviation Administration’s
Program Management Branch (AFS-260), Flight Standards Service (any
changes to, or termination of, insurance also shall be filed with that
office);

4) Not operate aircraft under this authority unless it complies with
operational safety requirements at least equivalent to Annex 6 of the
Chicago Convention;

5) Conform to the airworthiness and airman competency requirements of
its Government for international air services;

6) Except as specifically exempted or otherwise provided for in a
Department Order, comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 203,
concerning waiver of Warsaw Convention liability limits and defenses;

7) Agree that operations under this authority constitute a waiver of
sovereign immunity, for the purposes of 28 U.S.C. 1605(a), but only with
respect to those actions or proceedings instituted against it in any
court or other tribunal in the United States that are: a) based on its
operations in international air transportation that, according to the
contract of carriage, include a point in the United States as a point of
origin, point of destination, or agreed stopping place, or for which the
contract of carriage was purchased in the United States; or b) based on
a claim under any international agreement or treaty cognizable in any
court or other tribunal of the United States.  In this condition, the
term “international air transportation” means “international
transportation” as defined by the Warsaw Convention, except that all
States shall be considered to be High Contracting Parties for the
purpose of this definition;

8) Except as specifically authorized by the Department, originate or
terminate all flights to/from the United States in its homeland;

9) Comply with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 217, concerning the
reporting of scheduled, nonscheduled, and charter data;

10) If charter operations are authorized, except as otherwise provided
in the applicable aviation agreement, comply with the Department’s
rules governing charters (including 14 CFR Parts 212 and 380); and

11) Comply with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations
required by the public interest as may be prescribed by the Department,
with all applicable orders or regulations of other U.S. agencies and
courts, and with all applicable laws of the United States.

This authority shall not be effective during any period when the holder
is not in compliance with the conditions imposed above.  Moreover, this
authority cannot be sold or otherwise transferred without explicit
Department approval under Title 49 of the U.S. Code.                    
                                                                        
       						 

 05/2004

 

